Braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation

ABSTRACT

A braiding apparatus includes a platform, a base plate, a core unit, a transmission unit, a track assembly, and strand carriers. The track assembly is divided into two braiding track groups each provided with transmission discs. The transmission discs of both braiding track groups are sequentially connected to define two braiding routes directed in different directions. The strand carriers shuttle on both braiding routes respectively and incessantly. Four intersections are defined when the two braiding routes meets. Accordingly, carrier strands fed by the strand carriers are wound around a core strand fed by the core unit while shuttling incessantly and are interwoven with each other while passing through the four intersections during the incessant shuttling motion, thereby wrapping a multi-convolutional braided layer around the core strand to complete a rope. Each convolution of the braided layer has four crossing points, which increases the practicability of the rope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a braiding apparatus and relates particularly to a braiding apparatus having a track assembly capable of executing a four-point interweaving operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 , a conventional braiding apparatus 1, as briefly shown, includes a platform 11, a base plate 12 disposed on the platform 11, a core unit 13 centered on the base plate 12 for feeding a core strand “a”, a transmission unit 14 disposed below the base plate 12, a track unit 15 arranged on the base plate 12, and a plurality of strand carriers 16 shuttling on the track unit 15 for feeding carrier strands “c”. The track unit 15 includes a plurality of rotating discs 151 arranged around the core unit 13 and connected one after another to assume a circular arrangement. Each rotating disc 151 includes a plurality of notches 152 for carrying the strand carriers 16. An intersection 153 is formed between any two adjacent rotating discs 151 under the circular arrangement of the track unit 15, which thereby defines an internal route “b1” and an external route “b2”.

When the transmission unit 14 is actuated, the strand carriers 16 move under a guiding motion of the track unit 15. In other words, the rotating discs 151 cooperate with the notches 152 to convey the strand carriers 16 so that the strand carriers 16 travels between the rotating discs 151 through the intersections 153 for shuttling on the internal route “b1” and the external route “b2” continuously. Meanwhile, each carrier strand “c” fed by each strand carrier 16 is incessantly pulled in different directions under the continuous shutting motion of the strand carriers 16. Therefore, the carrier strands “c” are crowdedly interwoven with each other to execute a crowded braiding operation whereby a braided layer is formed. The braided layer is provided with multiple convolutions and wrapped around the core strand “a”, thereby producing a complete rope 2 shown in FIG. 3 . During the crowded braiding operation, each convolution of the braided layer forms multiple crossing points 21 close to each other when the carrier strands “c” and other carrier strands “c” cross each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2 in which only the front view of the braided layer is shown.

Because the intersections 153 are formed based on the circular arrangement, the braided layer formed by interweaving the carrier strands “c” shows a crowdedly-interwoven pattern wound around the core strand “a”. However, the application of this crowded pattern is still limited. For example, too many crossing points 21 are formed because of the above interweaving mode, with the result that too many interstices are left between the carrier strands “c” and the core strand “a”, and the contact surface between the carrier strands “c” and the core strand “a” is also reduced. These conditions affect the heat conduction and limit the efficiency of dissipating heat while using the rope 2 in terms of heat dissipation. Thus, the conventional crowdedly-interwoven pattern formed by the crowded braiding operation is difficult to meet practical demand and still needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation, a track assembly of which defines a first braiding route and a second braiding route meeting at four intersections whereby a complete rope with a braided layer different from the conventional crowded pattern is produced, especially each convolution of the braided layer provides four crossing points to increase the practicability of the rope.

The braiding apparatus of this invention includes a platform, a base plate disposed on the platform, a core unit adapted to supply a core strand, a transmission unit disposed below the base plate, a track assembly arranged on the base plate, and a plurality of strand carrier shuttling on the track assembly and adapted to supply carrier strands. The track assembly includes a plurality of transmission discs disposed on the base plate and driven by the transmission unit. Each transmission disc has a plurality of notches formed thereon and adapted to carry the strand carriers. The transmission discs are connected to each other to thereby divide the track assembly into a first braiding track group and a second braiding track group. Both of the first braiding track group and the second braiding track group are arranged around the core unit when the core unit is centered on the base plate, and the first braiding track group is encircled by the second braiding track group. The transmission discs of the first braiding track group and the transmission discs of the second braiding track group are sequentially connected to each other, thereby defining a first braiding route and a second braiding route which are directed in different directions and meet to form four intersections. The four intersections are spaced at 90 degrees from each other. According to the above, the strand carriers are allowed to shuttle on the first braiding route and the second braiding route respectively and incessantly to execute an incessant shuttling motion whereby the core strand is wrapped in the carrier strands fed by the strand carriers. During the incessant shuttling motion, the carrier strands are interwoven with each other on an outer surface of the core strand when the strand carriers travel through the four intersections. Therefore, a full braided layer with multiple convolutions is created and wrapped around the core strand to thereby complete a braided rope, especially each of the convolutions has four crossing points to provide the rope with a special braided arrangement different from the conventional crowdedly-interwoven pattern. This special braided arrangement can promote the practicability of the rope.

Preferably, in one preferred embodiment, the first braiding route and the second braiding route cross each other to assume an X state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional braiding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of each convolution of a conventional interwoven pattern formed by the conventional braiding apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a complete braided rope produced by the conventional braiding apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a first preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a first braiding route of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second braiding route of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a brief view of the first preferred embodiment showing both of the first braiding route and the second braiding route which allow strand carriers to shuttle thereon;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of each convolution of a braided layer formed by the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a front view of a complete braided rope produced by the first preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 4 , a first preferred embodiment of a braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation is briefly shown. The braiding apparatus 3 includes a platform 31, a base plate 32 disposed on the platform 31, a core unit 33 disposed on the base plate 32 and configured to supply a core strand “A”, a transmission unit 34 disposed below the base plate 32, a track assembly 35 arranged on the base plate 32, and a plurality of strand carriers 36 movably mounted on the track assembly 35 and adapted to shuttle on the track assembly 35. The strand carriers 36, as briefly shown, have carrier strands “B” wound thereon respectively, and the carrier strands “B” are fed by the strand carriers 36 so that an outer surface of the core strand “A” fed by the core unit 33 can be wrapped in the carrier strands “B”, as shown in FIG. 9 .

The track assembly 35 is arranged around the core unit 33 by taking the core unit 33 as a center. Specifically, the track assembly 35 includes a plurality of transmission discs 351A, 352A disposed on the base plate 32 and arranged around the core unit 33 when the core unit 33 is centered on the base plate 32. The transmission discs 351A, 352A are driven by the transmission unit 34. Each of the transmission discs 351A, 352A has a plurality of notches 353 formed thereon for receiving and carrying the strand carriers 36. Accordingly, when the strand carriers 36 embedded into the notches 353 experience rotations of the transmission discs 351A, 352A, the strand carriers 36 are smoothly transported to shuttle on the track assembly 35 continuously, which thereby executes an incessant shuttling motion.

The transmission discs 351A, 352A of the track assembly 35 are connected to each other, which allows the transmission discs 351A, 352 to be grouped. In other words, the track assembly 35 is divided into a first braiding track group 351 and a second braiding track group 352, so the transmission discs 351A belong to the first braiding track group 351, and the transmission discs 352A belong to the second braiding track group 352. When the core unit 33 is centered on the base plate 32, both of the first braiding track group 351 and the second braiding track group 352 surround the core unit 33 by taking the core unit 33 as the center. The first braiding track group 351 is encircled or surrounded by the second braiding track group 352, so the transmission discs 352A of the second braiding track group 352 surround the transmission discs 351A of the first braiding track group 351.

Furthermore, the rotations of the transmission discs 351A of the first braiding track group 351 are actuated by the transmission unit 34. The transmission discs 351A are, but not limited to, sequentially connected to each other, spaced from each other, or partially connected to each other. In the drawings, it is taken as an example that the first braiding track group 351 has four transmission discs 351A which are spaced from each other. The rotations of the transmission discs 352A of the second braiding track group 352 are actuated by the transmission unit 34. The transmission discs 352A are, but not limited to, sequentially connected to each other, spaced from each other, or partially connected to each other. In the drawings, it is taken as an example that the second braiding track group 352 has twelve transmission discs 352A which are sequentially connected, namely connected one after another. The arrangement and the number of the transmission discs 351A, 352A can be adjusted to meet need.

The transmission discs 351A, 352A of the first braiding track group 351 and the second braiding track group 352 are sequentially connected to each other to thereby define different braiding routes D1, D2. For example, two sides of one transmission disc 351A are respectively connected to two transmission discs 352A which are adjacent to this transmission disc 351A, and other transmission discs 351A are also adapted to the same connecting mode. Meanwhile, the transmission discs 352A are connected in sequence. The above shows an alternate connection, so a first braiding route D1 (shown in FIG. 5 ) and a second braiding route D2 (shown in FIG. 6 ) can be defined on the whole track assembly 35, thereby allowing a group of strand carriers 36 to shuttle on the first braiding route D1 continuously and simultaneously allowing another group of strand carriers 36 to shuttle on the second braiding route D2 continuously. Thus, the incessant shuttling motion on both of the first braiding route D1 and the second braiding route D2 is executed.

It is noted that the first braiding route D1 and the second braiding route D2 are directed in different directions. Preferably, the two braiding routes D1, D2 cross each other to assume an X state. As shown in FIG. 7 , the bold or thick line represents the first braiding route D1, and the thin line represents the second braiding route D2. Furthermore, when the first braiding route D1 and the second braiding route D2 intersect or meet, four intersections D3, circled parts shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 , are formed and spaced at 90 degrees from each other. In other words, if a reference line from one intersection D3 to the core unit 33 is defined, and another reference line from another neighboring intersection D3 to the core unit 33 is also defined, the two references lines are perpendicular to each other so that the two adjacent intersections D3 are spaced from each other by 90 degrees. Accordingly, during the shutting motion of the strand carriers 36 on both braiding routes D1, D2, the carrier strands “B” fed by the strand carriers 36 cross to be interwoven with each other when the strand carriers 36 pass through each intersection D3. The interweaving operation of the carrier strands “B” occur in the four intersections D3, with the result that around the core strand “A” is wrapped a braided layer, each convolution of which only has four crossing points 41.

The operation of this invention is described with the aid of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 . Firstly, a start end of a core strand “A” of the core unit 33 is fed to a strand collector (not shown), and a start end of a carrier strand “B” of each strand carrier 36 is also fed to the strand collector. Then, the braiding device 3 transmits power to operate the transmission unit 34, and the rotations of the transmission discs 351A, 352A are concurrently actuated when the transmission unit 34 is in action. During the rotations of the transmission discs 351A, 352A, the strand carriers 36 shuttle on the first braiding route D1 and the second braiding route D2, and each carrier strand “B” subjects an outer surface of the core strand “A” to winding and interweaving so that the core strand “A” is wrapped in the carrier strands “B”. As for example arrowed in FIGS. 4 and 7 , a group of strand carriers 36 located on the first braiding route D1 can only shuttle on the route D1 incessantly, and another group of strand carriers 36 located on the second braiding route D2 can only shuttle on the route D2 incessantly. Accordingly, the carrier strands “B” are continuously wound around the outer surface of the core strand “A” because of different shuttling directions of the strand carriers 36 on both routes D1, D2. Meanwhile, when the strand carriers 36 travel through the four intersections D3 in sequence during the aforementioned shutting motion, the carrier strands “B” cross to be interwoven with each other on the outer surface of the core strand “A”. Thus, the shuttling motion of the strand carriers 36 causes a winding and interweaving operation, and the winding and interweaving operation between the carrier strands “B” and the core strand “A” is continuous to provide an incessant braiding action whereby a rope 4 is finally produced. The rope 4 is then collected by the strand collector for further use. In FIG. 9 , it shows that the complete rope 4 has a braided layer created by the winding and interweaving operation and provided with multiple convolutions or coils which are wound around the core strand “A”, and each convolution or each coil of the braided layer has four crossing points 41. The four crossing points 41 are spaced from each other when each convolution is made, as illustrated in FIG. 8 where the front view of the braided layer shows two crossing points 41 by solid lines, and two circled parts shown as dotted lines represent the other two crossing points 41 formed on the back.

Regarding the braided layer as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , it is apparent that the arrangement of the carrier strands “B” located on two sides of each crossing point 41 is unlike the conventional crowdedly-crossing arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and the aforementioned four-point interwoven arrangement contributes to a broad application of the rope 4. For example, the braided layer featuring four crossing points 41 on each convolution not only increases the contact surface between the carrier strands “B” and the core strand “A” but also reduces interstices formed between the core strand “A” and the carrier strands “B”, and these conditions promotes the heat conduction and facilitates an increase in the efficiency of dissipating heat while using the rope 4 in terms of heat dissipation. Therefore, this special arrangement can produce a rope 4 of good quality, and the rope 4 can be widely applied to meet practical needs, thereby increasing the practicability.

To sum up, the braiding apparatus of this invention divides the transmission discs of the track assembly which are disposed around the core unit into a first braiding track group and a second braiding track group and also takes advantage of the connection between the above transmission discs to define a first braiding route and a second braiding route on which strand carriers can shuttle respectively and incessantly for executing an incessant braiding action, especially the two braiding routes meet to form four intersections. Carrier strands fed by the strand carriers are interwoven with each other when the strand carriers pass through the four intersections. Thus, a braided layer having four crossing points on each convolution is created and wrapped around an outer surface of a core strand. Finally, the incessant braiding action of the strand carriers around the core strand produces a complete rope with the special braided layer whereby the practicability of the rope is increased.

While the embodiments are shown and described above, it is understood that further variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A braiding apparatus capable of generating a four-point interweaving operation comprising: a platform; a base plate disposed on said platform; a core unit disposed on said base plate and adapted to supply a core strand; a transmission unit disposed below said base plate; a track assembly arranged on said base plate; and a plurality of strand carriers movably mounted on said track assembly for executing an incessant shuttling motion and provided with carrier strands wound thereon; wherein said track assembly includes a plurality of transmission discs disposed on said base plate and driven by said transmission unit, each of said transmission discs having a plurality of notches formed thereon and adapted to carry said strand carriers, said transmission discs being connected to each other, and said track assembly thereby being divided into a first braiding track group and a second braiding track group, said first braiding track group and said second braiding track group being arranged around said core unit while taking said core unit as a center, with said first braiding track group encircled by said second braiding track group, wherein said transmission discs of said first braiding track group and said transmission discs of said second braiding track group are sequentially connected to each other to thereby define a first braiding route and a second braiding route, said first braiding route and said second braiding route being directed in different directions whereby said strand carriers shuttle on said first braiding route and said second braiding route respectively and continuously to execute said incessant shuttling motion, said first braiding route and said second braiding route meeting to form four intersections which are spaced at 90 degrees from each other, and said carrier strands thereby crossing each other when said strand carriers pass through said four intersections, said strand carriers being actuated under said incessant shuttling motion to wrap said strand carriers around an outer surface of said core strand and in the meantime allow said strand carriers to be interwoven with each other on said outer surface of said core strand, thereby forming a braided layer with a plurality of convolutions around said core strand, with each of said convolutions of said braided layer having four crossing points.
 2. The braiding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first braiding route and said second braiding route cross each other to assume an X state. 